Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-06-18
VALUABLE
Why Calves should Not be Dcaconed Ever
II Not Fed "A Drop of Milk,

Why Calves should Not be D%eaconed Even
II Not Fed a Drop of MIX.
ProfS. Henry and Armsby, of the
Wisconsin Experiment Station, have
been making a careful and elaborate
series of experiments in stock feeding.
Among others was one in raising l6
common calves picked up in the dairy
districts, that would have been deaconcd
if they had not been reserved fora bet
ter purpose, and n butter making
farmer, by examining the facts in the
case. can see. how he can make most
money from his calves by raising them,
without interfering with his regular
dairy business, Prof. Henry gives us
the facts covering four periods in the
year and the weight of the growth in
each and the cost Of live meat during
each.
The first period, embracing II weeks,
ended with the calves weighing 4,494
pounds. We will suppose they cost 81
each, or $32. They were fed $2S.SO
worth of ground oats, corn, wheat and
barley, bran, shorts, hay, corn fodder.
grass and pasture, together with 20,6i5
pounds of thoroughly skinned milk.
If they were then worth five cents on
foot their value was 1924. 20. Deduct
the cost of them at ~ each, and the
value of the grain and forage, and we
find Sl63.9O remaining to pay for the
milk, which would show it to be worth
70 cents per 100 pounds. Take another
view, that of charging the calves %
cents per 100 pounds of milk; add that
to other costs, and we find there was
s7.Ol net profit in feeding each calf.
Compute the meat at four cents, ex-
penscs the same, and We find there was
Il net profit of Si.2l on each calf if %
cents per 100 pounds are charged for
the skim-milk, and it would make the
milk worth 5I.6 cents per 100 pounds
if no sum is assigned as profit for calf.
Calves thus fed, it would seem, could
hardly fail to be worth as much us four
cents per pound anywhere, and more
than that in Eastern cities.
Let us take the calves at the end of
the second period-after II more
wecks-and we find they weighed
6,139 pounds, which, at four cents per
pound, would be S2i5. Sc. Deduct the
actual cost, including milk at 20 cents
| per 100 pounds, and there is Il profit of
S77.5i, OF $4.s4 per calf, or IS cents
per 100 pounds for all the skim-milk
fed in 26 wecks-if we call for II profit
on no other food. From that time on
no milk was fed, and we find the calves
weighed at the end of II weeks more,
1921 pounds, and at four cents per
pound they would be worth 1901. 81.
Cost up to that time $249. 81; net gain,
sos. 63 or $3.47 per calf. This compu-
tation allows 20 cents per 100 pounds
for all the skim-milk eaten.
At the end of six weeks more, the
calves weighed S,l37 pounds; which, at
| four cents would make them worth
1926. 4S; and it had cost SAB 6 to feed
| them for this period. Adding all the
costs, we find them $292.37, leaving
1881 or $2.07 per calf, net gain for
feeding so weeks.
The lesson in this is, that the time
to have sold the calves was at the end
Of the second period, ending December
2lst, or probably a little earlier in the
fall; for II seems that absence Of milk,
and presence Of cold weather, made
| the growth Of the last Is weeks cost
f44.i3 more than the gain would sell
for. Keeping them Is weeks in winter
gnawcd that much into the profit OF
keeping them 20 wccks-during the
| first and second periods. The butter
making farmers will see that the time
10 make money At calf-fccding is when
tho calves are young, when they have
milk, and when the weather is warm.
The warmth they can give In winter at
small cost, II they have the young
calves aud the milk. The ''boss' lcs-
son II. Don't deacon the calves,
even " they nrp not fed n drop OF
milk" ! have no doubt that feeding
sweet whey instead Of the sweet skim.
milk. would have made II show up full
~ half ~ valuable ah tho milk III a.
Emnh, ~ Rural Nsw Yorker.